Director Strategic Programs and Operations

Highmark Health; Olympia (WA); On-site; USD 142,000 - 236,000; Full time

Job summary

Highmark Health in Olympia, WA seeks a Director to lead strategic direction, portfolio management, and enterprise-wide initiatives, focusing on planning, funding processes, transformation program management, and long-range goals.

You will drive cost reduction, process efficiency, and improved customer experience through governance, resource optimization and executive reporting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Management, Healthcare Administration, Finance, Economics, Operations, Information Technology, or related discipline.
• Master’s degree preferred.
• 7 years of strategy, transformation, operations, or consulting experience.
• 5 years of management experience.
• 3 years of experience in matrixed organizations.
• Large data transformation experience supporting enterprise data architecture, integrity, analytics, or member experience.
• Healthcare experience and change management experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead enterprise strategic planning and management of initiatives across the organization.
• Oversee funding processes, strategic portfolios, and technology-enabled transformations.
• Align strategy and execution across business units.
• Provide governance, reporting and executive materials for reviews.
• Manage budget, resources, and workload balance across the team.
• Resolve escalations and coordinate with business leaders to mitigate risks.
• Ensure best practices and strategic tools are applied to complex projects.

Skills

Project Management

Communication

Problem Solving

Strategic Thinking

Leadership

Executive storytelling

Business Acumen

Execution

AI Transformation

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Master’s degree

Job description

Company :

Highmark Health

Job Description :

JOB SUMMARY

This role leads the strategic direction, management and execution of a portfolio of enterprise-wide initiatives, focusing on strategic planning, development and oversight of funding processes, transformation program management, and the design and implementation of long-range organizational goals. The Director is responsible for overseeing the development of ambitious goals, strategic plans and funding mechanisms that lead to significant improvements in cost reduction, process efficiency, and customer experience.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Perform management responsibilities to include, but are not limited to: involved in hiring and termination decisions, coaching and development, rewards and recognition, performance management and staff productivity. Plan, organize, staff, direct and control the day-to-day operations of the department; develop and implement policies and programs as necessary; may have budgetary responsibility and authority.

• Design and manage the enterprise strategic planning process.

• Define strategic objectives and long-range goals.

• Align strategy and execution across business units.

• Oversee funding processes, strategic portfolios, and technology-enabled transformations.

• Develop and lead strategic governance, coordination, and management of processes and functions within a matrixed organization. Responsible for all executive reviews and updates (e.g., executive level materials).

• Ensure that the balance of workload and assignment is correct across the team.

• Shared responsibility for all strategic processes and tools. Continuously assess team based on key metrics to achieve goals. Communicate and ensure best practices and strategic tools & processes are applied to address unique situations. Review identified risks across the projects and provide input and direction regarding potential remediation. Help resolve resource issues for projects through coordination with business unit leads.

• Support the resolution of any escalated issue for the project. Understand budget and resource utilization across the delivery domains.

• Provide business, portfolio and project reporting and analysis to executive steering committee. Actively engage in all red projects to resolve open issues. Be prepared to accept and manage escalations for projects in their domains. Have regular meetings with the stakeholders for critical projects. Ensure that any issues for project are properly escalated to senior leadership as appropriate.

• Other duties as assigned or requested.

EDUCATION

Required

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Management, Healthcare Administration, Finance, Economics, Operations, Information Technology, or related discipline, or relevant experience and/or education as determined by the company in lieu of bachelor's degree.

Preferred

• Master’s degree

EXPERIENCE

Required

• 7 years of strategy, transformation, operations, or consulting experience

• 5 years of management experience

• 3 years of experience in matrixed organizations

• Large data transformation experience that support enterprise data architecture, integrity, analytics, or member experience

Preferred

• Healthcare experience

• Change management experience

• Operational improvement experience

• Agile Delivery Management

LICENSES or CERTIFICATIONS

Required

• None

Preferred

• PMP - Project Management Professional

• CSM - Scrum Master

• PMI Agile Certified Practitioner

SKILLS

• Project Management (Agile)

• Strong Communication skills

• Problem Management and Resolution

• Strategic problem solving

• Leadership and influence

• Executive storytelling

• Business and financial acumen

• Execution management

• AI/ML, GenAI, Agentic AI transformation capabilities

Language (Other than English):

• None

Travel Requirement:

• 0% - 25%

PHYSICAL, MENTAL DEMANDS and WORKING CONDITIONS

Position Type

• Office-based

Physical work site required

• Yes

Disclaimer: The job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and essential duties and responsibilities of work performed by employees within this job title. It may not contain a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees to do this job.

Compliance Requirement : This job adheres to the ethical and legal standards and behavioral expectations as set forth in the code of business conduct and company policies.

As a component of job responsibilities, employees may have access to covered information, cardholder data, or other confidential customer information that must be protected at all times. In connection with this, all employees must comply with both the Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) as described in the Notice of Privacy Practices and Privacy Policies and Procedures as well as all data security guidelines established within the Company’s Handbook of Privacy Policies and Practices and Information Security Policy.

Furthermore, it is every employee’s responsibility to comply with the company’s Code of Business Conduct. This includes but is not limited to adherence to applicable federal and state laws, rules, and regulations as well as company policies and training requirements.

Pay Range Minimum:

$142,000.00

Pay Range Maximum:

$236,000.00

Base pay is determined by a variety of factors including a candidate’s qualifications, experience, and expected contributions, as well as internal peer equity, market, and business considerations. The displayed salary range does not reflect any geographic differential Highmark may apply for certain locations based upon comparative markets.

Highmark Health and its affiliates prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on any category protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

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